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Fisher/Nightingale Houses Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio. T ouching L ives with C ompassion. Chris Stanley Executive Director Fisher/Nightingale Houses, Inc. Wright-Patterson AFB – the Birthplace, Home and Future of Aerospace….
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Fisher/Nightingale Houses Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio TouchingLives withCompassion Chris Stanley Executive Director Fisher/Nightingale Houses, Inc.
Wright-Patterson AFB – the Birthplace, Home and Future of Aerospace…. but, did you know it is also the birthplace of compassionate care in the Department of Defense?
The Wright-Patt Fisher and Nightingale Houses provide an opportunity for military families to stay together and support each other when a loved one is undergoing medical treatment. The Houses provide physical and emotional support to our servicemen and servicewomen and their families. The Wright-Patterson AFB Fisher Houses assisted more than 500 Air Force, Army, Navy and Marines (active duty, retired, Guard and Reserve) and their families in 2009!
The Beginning….. • Foresight of Captain Gretchen Lizza • Involved and gained support of base leadership and private organizations • Nightingale House opened in May 1990 Captain (ret) Gretchen Lizza and family • Converted base housing across the street from the Medical Center • First compassionate care facility in the Department of Defense
Along come the Fishers….. • Zachary and Elizabeth Fisher were asked to build one Ronald McDonald-type house at Bethesda Naval Medical Center • Due to prior involvement with military, they agreed • First Fisher House opened in 1991 • Now 45 Fisher Houses at 18 military installations and 15 VA medical centers world-wide • Twelve more under construction or in design • Long-term plan: beyond current plans -- another 5 or 6 per year for next eight to nine years – get to nearly 100 houses!
“My thoughts of life have always been to do something in life that will outlast life. I was fortunate to find something that fulfills that goal completely.” Zachary Fisher
Existing Houses….. • Nightingale House • Converted base house (two 3 bedroom units in a duplex) • Eight bedrooms; four bathrooms; two half baths • Two kitchens, two dining areas, two living rooms • Enclosed porch
Existing Houses….. • Fisher House (opened in May 1994) • Nine bedrooms • Seven bathrooms; one half bath • One kitchen, one dining area, one living room • Gazebo • Manager’s office
House occupancy and volunteers….. • Seventeen bedrooms between the two Houses equates to 6,205 bed nights a year; we average in excess of 95 percent occupancy • Unfortunately, demand for rooms fluctuates and each month some families have to be turned away due to unavailability of space • Based on a priority system • In addition to small paid staff, numerous volunteers support the House guests • Provided the equivalent of another staff person’s hours in 2008 • Staff could not have supported guests without this unselfish giving of time by these volunteers
Houses serve everyone….. • In the last 20 years, the Wright-Patterson AFB Fisher Houses have served thousands of families….averaging more than 600 families every year • From all branches of the military • From stateside and overseas • Active duty, retired, Guard and Reserve and their families • Average length of stay is 11 days • Some stay for only a day or two and others for months…. even up to one year
Guest charge….. • In October 2006, the Fisher House Foundation started paying the previously-charged $10 per-night guest fee • Guests now stay in the Houses for free
Fisher/Nightingale Houses, Inc. • A private, 501(c)3 nonprofit, registered in the State of Ohio • Sole mission: raise funds to support compassionate care lodging for patients and their families receiving treatment at the Wright-Patt Medical Center
Air Force’s involvement….. • The Fisher House and the Nightingale House are owned, managed and supported financially by the Air Force and the Department of Defense • The Fisher/Nightingale Houses, Inc. donates funds to the Air Force and Department of Defense each month to cover all costs associated with the day-to-day operation of the Houses • The organization also donates additional funds, services, and items (large and small) to the Air Force and Department of Defense specifically in support of the Fisher Houses at Wright-Patterson AFB
FNHI Finances…… • Program expenses for 2008 were $158,444 (81.92% of total expenses) • Fund-raising expenses for 2008 were $20,813 (10.76% of total expenses) • Administrative expenses for 2008 were $14,174 (7.32% of total expenses) • Note: Final/audited 2009 figures will be available once the formal audit is concluded in the Fall of 2010
Why a new Fisher House? • The Nightingale House is a converted base house • From two three-bedroom units to an eight bedroom facility (including the conversion of the two garages to two bedrooms) • Constructed in 1975 as military family housing and, compared to the current Fisher Houses, is not handicapped accessible • Two of the eight bedrooms have private baths; the other six bedrooms share two small upstairs hallway baths • There are two small kitchens and two dining/living room areas
Details…. • The new Fisher House will replace the existing Nightingale House (Fisher House II) • The Nightingale House (304 Red Bud Lane) will be returned to Military Family Housing • The Fisher House Foundation conducted a groundbreaking ceremony on November 7th, 2008 • Actual construction started in early August 2009 • Twelve to fourteen month construction project • Currently on schedule for completion by end of October 2010
Location of the new House…. Fisher Houses are a one block walk down Schlatter from the Medical Center New Fisher House Current Fisher House
Proposed House plans from the Fisher House Foundation…. • 13 bedrooms with 13 handicapped-accessible ADA compliant bathrooms • Single story, 10,000 square feet • Two living rooms, kitchen and dining room • More laundry capabilities • Will also add 1,825 bed nights a year
Capital campaign…. • The projected cost of the new House is $3.15M • The Fisher House Foundation has challenged the FNHI to raise $1M towards the new House • As of early July 2010: $935,000 • Cash-in-hand, less expenses, plus firm commitments
Capital campaign committee…. • Some FNHI Board members • Chair: John Thrasher, Former FNHI President • Janice Beckett, FNHI President • Larry Sweeney, Treasurer • Chris Stanley, Executive Director
Capital campaign committee…. • Other community leaders • Frank Beeson, Publisher, Times Community Newspapers • Steve Brown, Brown and Bills Architects • Major General (Retired) Lou Ferraro • Major General (Retired) Ed Odgers • Lieutenant General (Retired) Dick Reynolds • Libby VanHook • Lieutenant General (Retired) Mike Zettler
The Wright-Patt Fisher Houses provide an invaluable service to military men and women and their families – won’t you consider reaching out a caring hand to help a military family today?
Consider helping, please….. • Consider a donation to the Fisher/Nightingale Houses, Inc. Capital Campaign • Contact the Executive Director, Chris Stanley, for more information • Mail: Post Office Box 33871, Wright-Patterson AFB OH 45433 • Home phone: 937-372-5784 • Cell phone: 937-672-8724 • E-mail: cstanley@woh.rr.com The Fisher/Nightingale Houses, Inc. is a private organization. It is not part of the Department of Defense or any of its components and it has no governmental status.